Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 7100’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 7100’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; single red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 7100’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5600’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,791

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5700’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,738

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5900’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,735

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6900’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 7500’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,736

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 7100’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2011 of a unnamed selection of Helleborus niger, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 7100’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 7100’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers         whereas plants of the female parent selection have white-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have fewer leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are red purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are         dark red in color.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5600’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5600’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5600’ have yellow green, white and purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5700’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5700’ in plant and growth habit as plants of the new Helleborus are not as compact as and are more vigorous than plants of ‘COSEH 5700’.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5900’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6900’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6900’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 6900’ have light yellow green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 7500’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 7500’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 7500’ have white to light yellow green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus ‘LEM 100’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,646. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘LEM 100’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘LEM 100’.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus flower earlier than plants of         ‘LEM 100’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 7100’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower and leaves of ‘COSEH 7100’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during December in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were 14 months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus niger X Helleborus x hybridus     ‘COSEH 7100’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus             niger, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             mounding plant habit with flowers held within and above the             foliar plane; plant shape, roughly flattened globular;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 29.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 39.2 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 22.2 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 12.1 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Obovate to elliptic.         -   Leaflet apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Deeply serrate; slightly to moderately             undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; very slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             137A to 137B; midvein proximally, close to 187B. Developing             leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 138B and 147B;             midvein, close to 187B. Fully developed leaflets, upper             surface: Darker than between NN137A and 147A; venation,             close to 144B. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface:             Close to 147B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 9 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers; flowers             slightly cupped; arranged solitary or in clusters with about             three flowers each; freely flowering habit with about 23             flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly             to slightly nodding.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower from the late autumn             into the winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals             persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 157A; towards the apex and venation, close             to 60C to 60D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 7.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 8.2 cm by 8.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.3 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 4.9 cm. Width: About 4.6 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate, slightly to moderately concave. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Truncate to rounded. Margin: Entire; not             undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Slightly lighter than between 75C and 186D and heavily             covered with fine dots, close to 64B; venation, similar to             lamina color. When opening, lower surface: Close to 75C to             slightly lighter than 75C and heavily covered with fine             dots, close to 61A and 64A to 64B; venation, similar to             lamina color. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 76D and             heavily covered with fine dots, close to 64B and 64C;             venation, similar to lamina color; with development, close             to 144A tinged with close to 186C and 186D. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 75C, distally, close to 75D and             heavily covered with fine dots, close to 64B and 64C;             venation, close to 64B and 64C; with development, close to             183D tinged with close to 146C and venation, close to 187A.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two.             Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 3.1 cm. Shape: Broadly             ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Finely serrate             to serrate; not undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to             between 139A and 147A; venation, similar to lamina. Color,             lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 183A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 18.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to             7 mm. Aspect: About 20° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 145A and slightly covered with fine dots,             close to 200C to 200D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Aspect: About 10° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 146C and heavily covered with fine             dots, close to 183A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:             About 120. Filament length: About 1.8 cm. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform;             basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2 mm. Anther color:             Close to 150C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About eight and             occasionally, five to seven. Pistil length: About 7 mm.             Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length: About 6.5 mm.             Style color: Close to 59B to 59C. Ovary color: Close to 144C             and towards the margins, close to 59D to lighter than 59D.             Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per flower:             About 16. Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape:             Tubular, flattened. Texture and luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             immature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144C, distally,             close to 145A and proximally, close to 200B. Color, mature,             inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144C and proximally,             close to 200A; with development, close to 144C, distally,             close to 153D and proximally, close to 200C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 7100’ as illustrated and described. 